Jeff Finley
By Jeff Finley
As many Free Methodists from across the United States and around the world gather Tuesday to Friday (July 25–28) in Orlando for General Conference 2023, what will be happening and for what should we be praying?
Will GC23 — with a theme of “Igniting a Spirit-Fueled Movement” — be a time for worship and the preaching of God’s Word, a training and resourcing event, a legislative event shaping the Book of Discipline, an election of the Free Methodist Church USA’s top leaders, or an exhibition of denominational ministries and partners? It will actually be all of those things, and even though other commitments will prevent many Free Methodists from attending this once-every-four-years event, we can carry on the attitude of intercessory prayer reflected in the pre-conference National Prayer Summit and its theme of “This Kairos Moment.” In case you’re wondering, Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning a time, an occasion, a fitting season, or an opportunity.
GC23 is an intergenerational gathering offering many opportunities for connections and growth with a busy schedule of events for delegates and other participants — including Next Gen Ministries for children and teens. Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to move among the church’s younger generations and the volunteers working with the nursery, preschool, elementary and youth programs.
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“Let’s pray for the Spirit to fill and fuel the worship leaders and speakers along with other participants as they unite in worship.”
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Each morning begins with a worship service from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., and another worship service will be held each evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Let’s pray for the Spirit to fill and fuel the worship leaders and speakers along with other participants as they unite in worship.
Focus groups will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. each morning to discuss a value of The Free Methodist Way and how that value intersects with the other four values. Each participant will stay with the same group for all four days of GC23. Group talks are being recorded for eventual posting to the FMCUSA YouTube channel. Let’s pray for each focus group and its leader(s): Life-Giving Holiness (Jerry Coleman), Love-Driven Justice (Fraser Venter), Christ-Compelled Multiplication (Larry and Deb Walkemeyer), Cross-Cultural Collaboration (Gerald Coates) and God-Given Revelation (Edward Song).
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“Pray for wisdom for the delegates as they vote on this important matter.”
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Plenary sessions begin Tuesday afternoon with delegates scheduled to vote on Resolution No. 499, which, if approved, would expand the number of Free Methodist Church USA bishops from three to four. Pray for wisdom for the delegates as they vote on this important matter.
The Wednesday afternoon plenary sessions will include the election of the FMCUSA’s Board of Bishops and Board of Administration (BOA) . The seven bishop nominees are Linda Adams, Amelia Cleveland-Traylor, Keith Cowart, Kaye Kolde, Edward Kenneth Martin, Michael Traylor and Matt Whitehead. Board of Administration members will be elected by region (Northern, Southern and Western); click here to view all of the BOA nominees. (The BOA’s makeup could be affected by the outcome of Resolution No. 411, which would require each region to elect a superintendent to the BOA to ensure “a balance of voices from the eldership, the superintendency, and the Bishopric.”) Pray for discernment as the delegates elect our bishops and national board members for the next four years.
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“Pray for the Spirit to guide delegates as they vote after carefully studying and discussing these resolutions and prayerfully seeking God’s will.”
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During the conference’s plenary sessions, delegates will also consider additional resolutions such as Nos. 301 (Capital Punishment), 303 (As Regards Creation Care), 305 (Dignity & Worth of Persons: Sexual Orientation), 307 (The Criminal Justice System), 601 (Lay Administered Sacraments) and a Free Methodist World Conference resolution on “The Insertion of Paragraphs 114-Marriage and 115-Sexuality in the Articles of Religion of the BOD of the FMC.” Pray for the Spirit to guide delegates as they vote after carefully studying and discussing these resolutions and prayerfully seeking God’s will.
The Exhibit Hall will also open at 9:45 a.m. each day and be open until 10 p.m. except during the evening worship services. Let’s pray for the representatives from FM Financial, ICCM, Free Methodist World Missions, the Light + Life Bookstore, our colleges and universities, other exhibitors and everyone else who enters the Exhibit Hall. May their conversations lead to kingdom connections that will aid the spread of the gospel and enhance discipleship.
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“Pray for GC23 events and outcomes as the Spirit leads you”
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The Chaplains Association of the Free Methodist Church will also meet daily for professional development training that reflects the conference’s theme. Please pray for the chaplains and their spouses as they prepare to ignite a Spirit-fueled movement in their contexts.
Many other gatherings will take place during GC23 such as a Tuesday historical lunch with Paul Patton portraying Free Methodist founder B.T. Roberts and a Friday lunch for women clergy along with community dinners hosted by FM Financial (featuring acclaimed singer Babbie Mason), ICCM, Free Methodist World Missions and the World Ministries Center. Take a look at the full schedule and pray for GC23 events and outcomes as the Spirit leads you.
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